"A VERY BRIEF STUDY" ON THE EVOLUTION OF "SIVA AGAMAMS" IN TAMIL NADU
THE MAHENDRA MALAI IN TAMILNADU A HOLY ABODE OF GOD SIVA
In ancient times there had been mountains in Tamil Nadu which were held as holy abodes of God Siva and Goddess Sakthi by the Saivites of Tamil Nadu, as much as Mount Kailash of the Tibetian region, having their own concepts on the importance and significance of these mountains coming forth from the Sages & Seers of Tamil Nadu over a period of time. They were evidently the Mahendra Malai, Pothikai Malai, An-naa Malai, and the Eengoi Malai .
Among them the Mahendra Malai draws our importance, as this mountain is not only held as the holy abode of God Siva and Goddess Sakthi, but also related with the evolution of the original Agamams. Mahendra Malai was also known as the Manthira Maamalai.
The following references confirms the association of God Siva with this mountain.
9th Thirumurai by Saint Thirumaalikaithevar, Pathikam 3, Verse 1
"varuneer aruvi Mahenthirap pon malaiyin Malaimahalukku arulum kuru nee"
9th Thirumurai by Saint Thirumaalikaithevar, Pathikam 3, Verse 10
THE LOCATION OF MAHENDRA MALAI
The Mahendra mountain range was situated in the extreme south of the present Tamil Nadu, evidently stretching beyond the present Kanya Kumari region, which formed a part of the Pandiya Nadu of that period.
However with a great sea erosion taking place many mountains including Pahruli river and vast tracts of land of the Kumari region belonging to then Pandiyan king submerged in to the sea. In this tragedy the southern most part of the `Mahendra Mountain range' too sank into the sea, while the northern part of same with a single tall peak known as Mahendra Malai survived.
The survived peak of the Mahendra mountain range could be seen even today, south of Taamiraparani river in the present Kanyakumari district, almost midway between the Thirukkurungudi and Bhutapandi having a height of 1,654 Metres (5,425 Ft), and presently called as the Mahendragiri. (Giri is mountain - in Sanskrit & Malai in Tamil)
The following references confirms the sinking of the southern part of the Mahendra Mountain range, and the present location of the surviving peak.
Among them, the reference from Valmiki Ramayana further indicates that the remaining portion of the Mahendra mountain was lying down south of India beyond the Taamiraparani river in between the then Pandiyan capital and the sea in the days of the Ramayana epic, and even today. The reference is as follows.
Taamraparni .from there that is divine and fully golden and decorated with pearls & gemstones you shall see the Pandiyan resolving - the resolve of the purpose. There "with its one end verily penned in by Sage Agastya inside the ocean, the fortunate Mt Mahendra is there", with its marvellous pinnacles and the best among the mountains ."
Valmiki Ramayana Kiskinda Kanda (English Translation)
The last reference seen above in the Tamil epic poem Silappathikarem states "Praise to the Thennavan (Pandiyan king) who on the fearce sea submerging the riverPahruli with many range of mountains including the Kumari range, conquerd the Gangai (river) and Imayam (Himalayan mountain) and ruled from the south".
Among the many range of mountains that submerged possibly was also the southern part of then Mahendra mountain range, as Silappathikarem states it was the territory of the Pandiyan king, which falls in line with what is stated in the Valmiki Ramayana that beyond the Pandiyan kingdom was the Mahendra mountain.
AGAMAMS REVEALED BY GOD SIVA TO FOUR MUNIVARS ON THE MAHENTHIRA MALAI
The Kooththanool a Sangam period Tamil dance treatise, confirms that the four original Agamams were revealed by God Siva to (the "visualising senses" of) four Munivars (on their intense worship of him) on the Mahendra Mountain. The Agamams were also known as Thanthirams.
The Tamil Saiva Saint Maanikka-vaasagar of Tamil Nadu too confirms this truth in the Sivapuraanam of his work Thiruvaasakam, by stating that God Siva revealed Agamams on Mahenthira Malai.